Voluntary work and social welfare payments
Voluntary work is a good way to keep active, learn new skills and get involved in your local community. You
may do some unpaid work as a volunteer and keep your social welfare payment. However, you must
continue to meet all the conditions attached to your payment.
Your Intreo centre or social welfare local office or the section paying your social welfare payment will
usually decide whether you can keep your social welfare payment and work as a volunteer.
In most instances to get permission from the Department you may need to fill in application
form (VW1), which is available from your Intreo centre or social welfare local office. If you
need any assistance or advice with filling in this form please contact your local Citizens
Information Centre http://centres.citizensinformation.ie/
For more information visit the Citizen’s Information Website
http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/social_welfare/social_welfare_payments/voluntary_work_an
d_social_welfare_payments.html